There are a lot of wrestlers who have laid claim to the Tribal Chief, but Cody Rhodes believes there is only one.
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes recently sat down with TheOneMona. When asked who the real Tribal Chief is, Rhodes bestowed Roman Reigns as the real Tribal Chief of WWE.
“Okay, well, from a reality standpoint, him and The Rock are both chiefs, real chiefs. Yeah, and I feel like I might have been naive and maybe a little uncultured, and knowing…it took me a while to kind of catch up. You know, when Mr. Heyman says something you should probably listen and that him going on about the ulafala and stuff.
“I don’t think I really fully got it. And now I’m thinking, like, ‘Oh, it’s not the Million Dollar Title.’ It is it is genuine. It is real. And he represents it so well. They both do so. But who’s the real Tribal Chief? I guess you’d have to say Roman is the real Tribal Chief. I’m not gonna say Solo, a child, petulant child. I’ll say all kinds of bad stuff about Solo….maybe one day [he’ll become Tribal Chief].” [H/T: WrestlingNews.co]
What do you make of Cody Rhodes’ comments? Is Roman Reigns the true Tribal Chief of WWE? Let us know your thoughts by sounding off in the comments section below.
Cody Rhodes Reveals Who He Believes Is The Real Tribal Chief
In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, AEW star Cody Rhodes shared his thoughts on who he believes is the real Tribal Chief in professional wrestling.
Rhodes, who is no stranger to the world of wrestling royalty himself as the son of the legendary Dusty Rhodes, had high praise for WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns. He stated, “I think Roman Reigns has really solidified himself as the true Tribal Chief in wrestling right now. His character work and in-ring skills have been on another level, and he has truly established himself as a dominant force in the industry.”
Rhodes went on to commend Reigns for his dedication to his character and the way he has been able to connect with fans on a deeper level. He added, “Roman has done a fantastic job of evolving his character and making it his own. He has taken the Tribal Chief persona and run with it, creating a captivating and compelling character that fans can’t help but be invested in.”
While there may be other wrestlers who lay claim to the title of Tribal Chief, Cody Rhodes seems to believe that Roman Reigns has truly earned the right to be called the real Tribal Chief in the world of professional wrestling.
Marie-Philippe Bouchard, chief executive officer of CBC/Radio-Canada, at the CBC offices in Montreal on Jan. 29.Christinne Muschi/The Canadian Press
The new head of CBC/Radio Canada, in her first public speech since taking the post three weeks ago, says dissolving the CBC would be a tragedy and have a devastating impact on the production of TV shows and films in Canada.
Speaking at an Ottawa conference for the film and TV industry, Marie-Philippe Bouchard, the new president and chief executive officer, said she fears the breakdown of Canada’s media ecosystem in the face of competition from foreign streaming platforms. She warned that removing the public broadcaster could lead to the collapse of that ecosystem.
The Conservatives have said they would cut funding for the CBC, while preserving French services, if they form the next federal government.
Bouchard, who spent 29 years working for the public broadcaster before becoming president and CEO of TV5 Québec Canada, said the CBC has to “evolve” and “figure out how to represent everybody.”
“But I think it would be a tragedy to dissolve something we’ve all inherited,” she said.
Bouchard was speaking at Prime Time, an annual conference in Ottawa run by the Canadian Media Producers Association, where delegates have a chance to pitch their ideas to providers such as Amazon Prime Video and Lionsgate Canada.
The CBC is the biggest commissioner of independent Canadian productions in the country, and conference delegates expressed concern that cuts in CBC funding could hit TV and film production hard.
“They are the biggest buyer in the country. Their whole prime time schedule is Canadian content. Losing their support would be devastating for the independent production community,” said Nicole Mendes, vice-president of scripted development at Lark Productions, which made Allegiance, a highly-rated police drama set in Surrey, B.C., that airs on CBC.
Bouchard said with “less money,” CBC/Radio Canada and other Canadian companies are having a hard time competing with big international streaming platforms, such as Netflix.
“My fear is having a breakdown of the media fabric in Canada, the ability for Canadian-owned media, and all the producers that want to be on those Canadian media, to actually connect with audiences and not be overwhelmed by the force of international platforms, both in terms of entertainment but also in terms of information,” she said.
Bouchard said the situation is “solvable not by the actions of the public broadcaster alone, but if you take the public broadcaster out of the equation, there’s a big risk of collapse.”
She would not get drawn into the debate about the Conservative pledge to cut the CBC’s funding saying “I’m not going to do any political talk here today or anywhere – ever. I’m not. But I’m aware that there is a debate.”
Senator Andrew Cardozo, who initiated a debate in the Senate on the CBC’s future, said Bouchard is “walking a tightrope” as criticisms of the CBC are very political, but “she is obligated to respond in a totally non-political way.”
He said Trump’s comments about a 51st state create an opportunity for the CBC to be integral to Canada’s national identity.
Bouchard said when she agreed to take the job, Trump had yet to make quips about Canada becoming the 51st state.
“I didn’t know we would be in a kind of psychodrama,” she said. Bouchard said his remarks have catalyzed Canadians to come together and the CBC has a role in cementing the Canadian identity.
“When you have not-so-friendly neighbours talking about a 51st state, I think it’s really important that we focus on maintaining that strength and that distinctiveness of our culture, our common culture,” she said.
Bouchard said that “change is coming” at the CBC and she is currently touring the country to listen to a variety of voices.
The Liberal government has been criticized for failing to update CBC/Radio Canada’s 1991 mandate before Bouchard took the helm this month for a five-year term. She sat on a government-appointed panel looking at a revised mandate last year before she took the top job.
Broadcasting experts said the government should have approved a new funding model for the public broadcaster so that it does not rely on advertisements for revenue in news and current affairs programs, and to shore it up for the future.
But with the Liberal Party embroiled in a leadership race after the resignation of Justin Trudeau, and the proroguing of Parliament until Mar. 24, the chances of legislation to update the CBC’s mandate being passed before the next election are slim.
The newly appointed chief of the CBC, who has taken the reins of Canada’s public broadcaster, has spoken out about the potential consequences of dissolving the institution. In a recent interview, the chief emphasized that it would be a ‘tragedy’ to dissolve the CBC, warning that such a move could have devastating effects on the country’s TV and film sector.
The chief highlighted the important role that the CBC plays in promoting Canadian content and supporting local creators. Without the CBC, the chief argued, the Canadian TV and film industry could suffer greatly, with fewer opportunities for Canadian talent to showcase their work and limited access to Canadian stories and perspectives.
The chief’s comments come at a time when the future of the CBC has been called into question, with some critics advocating for the dissolution of the public broadcaster. However, the chief’s remarks serve as a powerful reminder of the vital role that the CBC plays in Canada’s cultural landscape, and the potential consequences of dismantling such an important institution.
As discussions about the future of the CBC continue, it is clear that the chief is committed to defending the public broadcaster and ensuring that it continues to thrive. The chief’s words serve as a rallying cry for supporters of the CBC, urging them to stand up and protect this crucial pillar of Canadian media.
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CBC chief, public broadcaster, TV and film sector, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, media industry, government funding, cultural impact, Canadian television, public service broadcasting, Canadian content, television programming, film production, media landscape, Canadian media, public support, national broadcaster
In keeping with the police department’s commitment to be innovative in its mission to enhance Nashville’s safety, Chief John Drake today announced the implementation of an additional overlapping officer work shift effective February 1 to enhance police visibility during peak hours and reduce response time for non-emergency calls.
“The new D-shift, to be staffed by a total of 41 officers, 5 sergeants and 1 lieutenant, will operate 7 days a week between the hours of noon and 10:30 p.m.,” Chief Drake said. “D-shift officers will have the flexibility to provide additional resources to any of our 8 precincts across the county, particularly those that have a higher volume of pending calls.”
Officers comprising the D-shift had been part of precinct-based community engagement teams, which continue to be fully operational, just with fewer personnel. Chief Drake noted that community engagement will always be one of the MNPD’s core pillars.
The new D-shift will provide for 4 overlapping shifts on a daily basis:
The D-shift will be led by Lieutenant Brad Nave. Considering regular days off, vacations, sick leave, in-service training, etc., the D-shift will operate with a minimum staffing of 18 officers plus supervisors. Besides supporting precincts with a high call volume, D shift officers will also assist in securing large crime scenes, respond to demonstrations/protests, and support other precision policing efforts.
Attention all department members,
I am pleased to announce that starting tomorrow, we will be implementing a new additional officer work shift to better serve our community. This decision comes in response to the increasing demands and calls for service that our department has been receiving.
The new shift will provide us with more coverage during peak hours and help us maintain a proactive approach to crime prevention. Our goal is to enhance our response times and overall effectiveness in keeping our community safe.
I want to thank all of our officers for their dedication and hard work, and I am confident that this new shift will further strengthen our ability to serve and protect. Please make sure to review the updated schedule and be prepared for the changes that will take effect tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in law enforcement.
Chief Drake
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Chief Drake, officer work shift, new shift announcement, additional officer, police department, law enforcement, scheduling change, effective immediately, work schedule update, officer staffing, law enforcement news.
The director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Rohit Chopra, was fired on Saturday, prematurely ending a five-year term that was scheduled to run through late 2026.
“With so much power concentrated in the hands of a few, agencies like the C.F.P.B. have never been more critical,” Mr. Chopra wrote in a letter he posted on social media announcing his departure.
Mr. Chopra expected to be fired immediately after President Trump took office, but he improbably hung on for nearly two weeks, even as the president ousted scores of other agency leaders. He used that time to impose a $2 million fine on a money transmitter and release reports on auto lending costs, specialty credit reporting companies and rent payment data.
When Congress created the consumer bureau in 2011 — to increase oversight of mortgage loans and other financial products in the aftermath of the Great Recession — it included guardrails to protect the agency’s independence and shield it from shifting political tides. But the Supreme Court ruled in 2020 that the president was free to fire the agency’s director without cause, which cleared the way for the bureau’s leadership to change with each presidential administration.
Mr. Chopra was a scourge of Wall Street, known for his aggressive approach to enforcing consumer protection laws and expanding their boundaries by issuing new rules. He led a crackdown that prompted most large banks to abandon or significantly reduce overdraft fees, and he ordered Wells Fargo to pay $2 billion in 2022 to customers harmed by its misdeeds, which included improperly seizing some borrowers’ cars and homes.
Mr. Chopra was especially focused on tightening the rules governing large technology companies’ consumer payment services and use of customer data, an effort that drew praise from banking trade groups. But those groups fiercely opposed many of his other actions, often tying them up in years of litigation.
As part of a Biden administration crusade against “junk fees,” Mr. Chopra issued a rule last year to limit most credit card late payment fees to no more than $8 per month. Banking trade groups sued and won an injunction temporarily blocking it. The consumer bureau has fought the lawsuit, but a new director could choose to end that opposition and curtail or abandon the rule.
During President Trump’s first term, he installed an acting bureau director — Mick Mulvaney, who later served as his acting chief of staff — who sought to cut off the agency’s funding and cripple its enforcement efforts. He was succeeded by Kathleen Kraninger, who issued rules that gutted Obama-era regulations, including one that would have sharply curtailed payday lending. Former President Joseph R. Biden Jr. ousted Ms. Kraninger immediately upon taking office.
The bureau will be run by Zixta Martinez, its deputy director, until Mr. Trump chooses a new acting leader. Financial industry officials expect the agency to pare back its oversight, issue fewer new regulations and freeze or rescind some of those imposed by Mr. Chopra.
He used his departure letter, addressed to Mr. Trump, to pitch the bureau as a prospective partner in enacting consumer protections the president has spoken of endorsing. On the presidential campaign trail, Mr. Trump said he would temporarily limit credit card interest rates to 10 percent.
“We also have analyzed your promising proposal on capping credit card interest rates, and we see a path for enacting meaningful reforms,” Mr. Chopra wrote.
In a shocking move, the Trump administration has fired Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Chief Rohit Chopra. This decision comes amidst ongoing controversy and tension within the agency, with Chopra being a vocal critic of the administration’s deregulatory agenda.
Chopra, a staunch consumer advocate, has been a thorn in the side of the administration since taking over as head of the CFPB. His efforts to hold financial institutions accountable and protect consumers from predatory practices have earned him praise from consumer advocacy groups, but ire from the banking industry and Republican lawmakers.
The decision to remove Chopra from his position has raised concerns about the future of consumer protection in the United States. Many fear that without his leadership, the CFPB will be weakened and unable to fulfill its mandate of safeguarding consumers from financial harm.
Critics of the administration’s move argue that it is part of a broader effort to dismantle the regulatory framework put in place after the 2008 financial crisis. They warn that without strong leadership at the CFPB, consumers will be left vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous financial institutions.
As news of Chopra’s firing spreads, there has been an outpouring of support for him on social media, with many calling for his reinstatement. It remains to be seen how the CFPB will move forward without Chopra at the helm, but one thing is clear: his removal has sparked a fierce debate about the future of consumer protection in the United States.
This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.
AMYGOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org. I’m Amy Goodman.
We turn now to several confirmation hearings on Capitol Hill for President Trump’s Cabinet members, beginning with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who faced a second day of hearings for health secretary. Kennedy has previously campaigned as pro-choice, but during the hearing he repeatedly said he believes, quote, “every abortion is a tragedy,” and vowed to implement Trump’s policies. He also gave incorrect information about Medicare and Medicaid.
Kennedy’s long record of vaccine skepticism was a major focus. He repeatedly refused to disavow the debunked link between vaccines and autism and refused to acknowledge COVID vaccines are lifesaving. But he ended with this claim:
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: Before I conclude, I want to make sure this committee is clear about a few things. News reports and many in the hearing yesterday have claimed that I’m anti-vaccine and anti-industry. Well, I’m neither. I’m pro-safety. I’m pro-good science. I worked for 40 years to raise awareness about mercury and other toxics in fish, and nobody called me anti-fish. All my kids are vaccinated. I believe vaccines have saved millions of lives and play a critical role in healthcare.
AMYGOODMAN: In the same hearing on Thursday, Kennedy defended his trip to Samoa in June of 2019, four months before a measles outbreak was declared that killed 83 people, mostly children. Kennedy’s anti-vaccine nonprofit Children’s Health Defense offered to finance the trip. This is Democratic Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts questioning Kennedy about that trip.
SEN. ED MARKEY: So, let me just follow through now, 2019. So, now, in October of 2019, the CDC declared a measles outbreak in Samoa. And in November, Samoa started a mass vaccination campaign to stop the outbreak. That same month, November of 2019, after 16 people had already died from the outbreak and Samoa was trying to respond to the crisis, you sent a letter to the prime minister of Samoa stating that, quote, “It is a regrettable possibility that these children are [casualties] of the vaccine.” By unanimous consent, I will introduce that letter into the record.
SEN. BILLCASSIDY: Without objection.
SEN. ED MARKEY: So, as Samoa was trying to contain the outbreak, you were saying that it was the fault of the vaccine, rather than the absence of vaccinations, that caused the outbreak in Samoa in the same year you visited Samoa.
ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.: And I replied to that, Senator —
SEN. ED MARKEY: Now, the death count — let me — let me just finish. The death count in Samoa grew to 83. And ultimately, volunteers in New Zealand sent tiny coffins to help bury the dozens of children who died. And the Samoan director general of health later said, “With his last name and the status attached to it, people will believe him. People will believe Robert Kennedy.”
AMYGOODMAN: So, that was Senator Markey. This week, Samoa’s prime minister criticized RFK Jr.’s vaccine views and said she’s surprised by his nomination for health secretary.
For more, we’re joined by two guests, but we’re going to begin in Apia, the capital of Samoa. We’ll begin with Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma, who is the current director general of health for Samoa’s Health Ministry.
Doctor, welcome to Democracy Now! Thanks for joining us from Samoa. Can you explain? For two days we’ve heard about Samoa. Explain exactly what happened in 2019.
DR. ALECEKEROMA: Thank you very much for the opportunity.
In 2019, Samoa had a very low vaccination rate, and that was because of some problems back in 2018 with a matching-mixing of vaccines that resulted in two deaths. And so, therefore, we had a low vaccination rate already. And then Kennedy visited, before the measles outbreak. Now, the measles outbreak, of course, it came from New Zealand across the islands, and because of a low vaccination rate, it just took off, and so resulting in so many deaths.
But the government responded quickly and demanded a vaccine campaign — vaccination campaign, and there was some international assistance to Samoa from all countries in the world, who came across — doctors and nurses came across to Samoa to help with the mass vaccination of our people. So, that drove the vaccination up, rate up, to 90%, within a few months.
So, Kennedy’s presence in Samoa a few months before that actually emboldened the anti-vaxxers locally and also from New Zealand. And so, they were the ones, really, that tried to sow the vaccine hesitancy in the country. But, fortunately, our leaders did not believe that and mounted this emergency and mass vaccination campaign.
AMYGOODMAN: Why did Kennedy go to Samoa?
DR. ALECEKEROMA: Apparently, he came to talk about some database that they could create. But when he was here, he talked to — well, he talked to the director — the then-director general of health and to the prime minister, but he also talked to local anti-vaxxers, as well. So, I’m not privy to what was discussed, but the result of his visit didn’t result in any improvements in our ICT or software capabilities in the country. None was promised.
AMYGOODMAN: I want to bring our other guest into this conversation. As we talk to the health director in Samoa, I also want to bring Brian Deer in, who was there in 2018 — in 2019 in the midst of the measles outbreak. He’s an investigative journalist and author of The Doctor Who Fooled the World. His recent New York Timesopinion piece, “I’ll Never Forget What Kennedy Did During Samoa’s Measles Outbreak.” So, can you elaborate further on what Dr. Ekeroma is saying?
BRIANDEER: Good morning, Amy.
Yes, indeed, I was out in Samoa at the time, and I spent a great deal of my time there speaking to the mothers of children who died from measles. And it was the most emotional experience, and I ended my time there just crying, as I became overcome by the pain of these mothers. Eighty-three people died, overwhelmingly small children.
Now, Mr. Kennedy thinks he knows better than anybody else. He claims that he’s not anti-vaccine. I’ve been following what is now called the anti-vaccine movement for 25 years. And I can assure you that Mr. Kennedy is not only an anti-vaccine campaigner, he is the preeminent anti-vaccine campaigner in the world. And he went to Samoa, and after the outbreak began, he then wrote to the prime minister, trying to suggest that it wasn’t, in fact, the virus at all that was killing these children, but was, in fact, the responsibility of the vaccine itself.
And he didn’t stop there. Even this week, speaking to senators, he claimed that nobody knows what these children died from, even though the measles was — the vaccine there had collapsed as a result of other issues. And then, after a vaccination campaign that followed the outbreak, or took part — occurred at the same time as the outbreak, the children stopped dying. But Mr. Kennedy felt that he should tell senators that nobody knows what killed those children — extraordinary thing for him to say.
AMYGOODMAN: What do you think, Brian Deer — and then I want to ask the health minister in Samoa — of him being the health secretary, the secretary of health and human services of the United States?
BRIANDEER: Well, I have to say, listening to him over the last couple of days, Amy, that I was shocked by the attitude he displayed. He was making it absolutely clear that notwithstanding him being the — hoping to become the head of an agency with a $2,000 billion budget and employing 90,000 people, he was going to personally involve himself in vaccine science, and it would be he who would be deciding whether the research was conducted properly, even though he has no medical or scientific qualifications at all, and not the enormous staff he represents and the agencies, that have actually written to him previously telling him that the research overwhelmingly and conclusively shows that there is no link between vaccines and, for example, autism. He was making it absolutely clear to senators that he was going to — in that job, with those enormous responsibilities, for that massive entity, he was going to involve himself in the individual pieces of research and deciding for himself whether vaccines, for example, cause autism.
AMYGOODMAN: And before we leave Samoa, Dr. Alec Ekeroma, if you can talk about the significance of if he is confirmed as health secretary here in the U.S.?
DR. ALECEKEROMA: It is quite significant. Someone who is prominent in the world, with a [inaudible], spitting out anti-vaccine sentiments, emboldening anti-vaxxers around the world and in Samoa, is going to be a public health disaster for us. Already, we’re going to have reduction in U.S. funding to United Nations and to WHO that is going to affect our capability here. And then you add in Bob Kennedy into this role, that is going to slow down the flow of vaccines to us, that is going to harm our public health state in this country. And so, therefore, it will be a disaster for us.
AMYGOODMAN: Well, I want to thank you, Dr. Alec Ekeroma, for joining us, director general of health for Samoa’s Health Ministry.
In a recent statement, Samoa’s Health Chief has called out prominent anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for spreading misinformation that contributed to a deadly measles outbreak in the country. The outbreak, which has claimed the lives of dozens of children, has been linked to low vaccination rates fueled by anti-vaccine propaganda.
Kennedy, who has a history of promoting debunked conspiracy theories about vaccines, has been criticized for his role in sowing doubt and fear about vaccination. Samoa’s Health Chief has urged people to listen to credible health experts and not fall victim to misinformation spread by individuals like Kennedy.
As the measles outbreak continues to devastate Samoa, it serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of spreading misinformation about vaccines. Vaccines are a proven and safe way to prevent deadly diseases, and it is crucial that we all work together to protect the health and well-being of our communities. Let’s listen to the experts and support efforts to increase vaccination rates and prevent future outbreaks.
Sheetz, 101 Valley Vista Drive, State College. Photo by Andrea Robinson | For StateCollege.com
Updated 4:56 p.m. Jan. 30.
A “medical emergency” drew a heavy police presence to a Patton Township Sheetz and forced the store to temporarily close on Thursday morning, according to the township’s police chief.
A male was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center by ambulance after police responded at about 7:15 a.m. to the Sheetz at 101 Valley Vista Drive, Chief Tyler Jolley wrote in a press release.
Centre County Coroner Scott Sayers confirmed to StateCollege.com later on Thursday that a death was involved and that his office responded. He called it “an isolated incident” and said there was no threat to the public, but referred further questions to Patton Township police.
Jolley declined additional comment.
“We are not releasing anything more at this time,” Jolley wrote in an email response to a request for further information on Thursday morning.
A Sheetz spokesperson said he could not provide details about the incident, but that the company is providing mental health resources and support to those who may have been affected.
The store reopened and resumed normal operations on Thursday morning.
After first responders arrived and the store’s parking lot was closed off, State College Area School District sent a message to families advising that there was no threat to nearby schools.
“As some of you are aware, there was an incident at the Valley Vista Sheetz this morning that required a heavy presence of first responders,” Nabil Mark, SCASD media and communications manager, wrote. “We have been in direct contact with the Patton Township Police Department, who has assured us that there is no danger to any of our schools and all of our students are safe.”
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
In a recent medical emergency at the Patton Township Sheetz, the Drew Police Department quickly responded to the scene, according to Chief Smith. The incident, which occurred late last night, required immediate medical attention and the swift action of law enforcement.
Chief Smith praised the officers for their professionalism and quick response in handling the situation. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement and medical personnel in times of crisis.
The individual involved in the medical emergency is currently receiving treatment at a local hospital, and their condition is stable. Chief Smith expressed gratitude for the community’s support and understanding during this challenging time.
The Drew Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all residents, and will continue to respond promptly to emergencies as they arise.
UN secretary-general António Guterres has called for 2,500 children to be immediately evacuated from Gaza for medical treatment after meeting with US doctors who said the children were at imminent risk of death in the coming weeks.
The four doctors had all volunteered in Gaza during the 15-month-long war between Israel and Palestinian militants Hamas that has devastated the territory of more than 2 million people and its healthcare system.
Guterres said he was “deeply moved” by his meeting with the American doctors on Thursday. “2,500 children must be immediately evacuated with the guarantee that they will be able to return to their families and communities,” Guterres posted on social media after the meeting.
Just days before a ceasefire began on 19 January, the World Health Organization said more than 12,000 patients were waiting for medical evacuations and it had hoped they could be ramped up during the truce.
Among those patients urgently needing treatment are 2,500 children, said Feroze Sidhwa, a California trauma surgeon who worked in Gaza from 25 March to 8 April last year.
“There’s about 2,500 children who are at imminent risk of death in the next few weeks. Some are dying right now. Some will die tomorrow. Some will die the next day,” Sidhwa told reporters after meeting with Guterres.
“Of those 2,500 kids, the vast majority need very simple things done,” he said, citing the case of a 3-year-old boy who suffered burns to his arm. The burns had healed, but the scar tissue was slowly cutting off blood flow, leaving him at risk of amputation, said Sidhwa.
Ayesha Khan, an emergency doctor at Stanford university hospital, worked in Gaza from the end of November until 1 January. She spoke about many children with amputations, who had no prosthetics or rehabilitation.
She held up a photo of two young sisters with amputations, who were sharing a wheelchair. They were orphaned in the attack that injured them and Khan said: “Their only chance for survival is to be medically evacuated.”
“Unfortunately, the current security restrictions don’t allow for children to travel with more than one caregiver,” she said. “Their caregiver is their aunt, who has a baby that she is breastfeeding.”
“So even though we were able to, with great difficulty, get evacuation set up for them, they won’t let the aunt take her baby with her. So the aunt has to choose between the baby she’s breastfeeding and the lives of her two nieces.”
Cogat, the Israeli defence agency that liaises with the Palestinians, did not respond to a request for comment on the demand for medical evacuation of 2,500 children by Guterres and the doctors he met. Israel’s mission to the UN also did not respond to a request for comment.
The doctors said they are advocating for a centralised process for medical evacuations with clear guidelines.
“Under this ceasefire agreement, there is supposed to be a mechanism in place for medical evacuations. We’ve still not seen that process spelled out,” said Thaer Ahmad, an emergency room doctor from Chicago, who worked in Gaza in January 2024.
Khan said there was no process in place to get the children out, adding: “And will they be allowed to return? There is some discussion right now of the Rafah border opening only for exits, but it’s exit without right to return.”
At the start of this month, before the ceasefire, the WHO said 5,383 patients had been evacuated with its support since the war began in October 2023, most of those in the first seven months before the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza was closed.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the urgent evacuation of 2,500 children from Gaza as doctors warn of the “imminent risk” of death in the war-torn region. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with children bearing the brunt of the violence.
Guterres emphasized the need for the immediate evacuation of these children to ensure their safety and well-being. He condemned the escalating violence in Gaza and reiterated the importance of protecting civilians, especially children, during times of conflict.
Doctors on the ground in Gaza have issued warnings of the dire situation faced by children in the region, with reports of severe injuries, trauma, and a lack of access to essential medical care. The UN chief’s call for evacuation comes as a critical response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza.
As the Israel-Gaza war continues to escalate, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to protect the lives of innocent children caught in the crossfire. The international community must come together to ensure the safe evacuation of these vulnerable children and work towards a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
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UN chief, Gaza children evacuation, doctors warn, imminent risk of death, Israel-Gaza war, humanitarian crisis, Gaza conflict, United Nations, child evacuation, Gaza Strip, urgent action, international response, civilian casualties, Middle East conflict
Lehigh County voter registration workers sort mail-in ballots Nov. 5, 2024, at Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. (Matt Smith / For Spotlight PA)Matt Smith
HARRISBURG — County elections officials in Pennsylvania rejected more than 11,000 mail-in ballots for technical reasons in the November election, including thousands that were determined to violate the much litigated requirement that voters provide accurate, handwritten dates on the return envelopes.
Data from the Department of State released this week shows about 2,600 were turned down for having the wrong date and nearly 2,100 for having no date at all.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court said in mid-January it will rule on whether the envelope date requirement violates a state constitutional mandate that elections be free and equal, the latest development in a string of court cases since mail-in voting was widely expanded under a 2019 law.
The elections agency also said about 3,000 votes didn’t count because the voters failed to put their ballot into a secrecy envelope and more than 3,500 were thrown out for lacking a signature. In addition, nearly 7,000 mail-in ballots that counties rejected in November had arrived to be counted after the cut-off time of 8 p.m. on Election Day, when polls closed.
The county workers who run the nuts and bolts of Pennsylvania elections do not use the outer envelope date for any practical purpose — they time stamp ballots when they arrive and know when they were sent out. Republicans who have advocated for the dates consider them an added layer of security.
The 11,000-plus votes rejected for wrong dates, no dates, no signatures or no security envelopes is a jump from the comparable figure in the November 2023 election, when about 8,000 votes were rejected for at least one of those four categories. However, 2024 was a high-turnout presidential election with a contested U.S. Senate race, while 2023 had less voter participation and only statewide judicial contests at the top of the ballot.
“Every vote is precious — a single vote being rejected is intolerable,” Secretary of State Al Schmidt said Friday. “So that’s why we have done all that we can to minimize the opportunity for voters to make mistakes.”
The Department of State redesigned mail-in ballot envelopes twice last year and engaged in a voter education effort, aiming to reduce the rejection rate. The percentage of returned mail ballots that were rejected fell from about 2.4% in the April primary to about 1% in November, the agency announced.
“We wanted to minimize opportunities for voters to make mistakes, whether they’re elderly or whether they’re filling this out when they’re sending their kids off to school in the morning,” Schmidt said.
There has been progress but there is more that counties can do to further reduce the rate of rejected mail ballots, said ACLU of Pennsylvania lawyer Vic Walczak.
“It’s 11,000 too many, so it’s better than the rejection rate before that,” said Walczak, who is involved in the pending state Supreme Court case. “It’s welcome and should be celebrated, but we shouldn’t be declaring victory yet.”
Some 2 million Pennsylvanians cast votes by mail this fall, and about 88% of the mail ballots that were sent out were returned by voters.
“Voter education isn’t something you do once, it’s something you always have to do,” Schmidt said. “And any ballot that is rejected — a single ballot in Pennsylvania that’s been rejected — feels like a failure to anyone who really cares about democracy.”
Pennsylvania’s top elections official, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, is touting the state’s progress in reducing the rejection rate of mail-in ballots. In a recent statement, Boockvar highlighted the improvements made to the mail ballot process, which have led to a significant decrease in the number of rejected ballots.
According to Boockvar, the rejection rate for mail-in ballots dropped from 1.5% in the 2020 election to just 0.2% in the 2021 primary election. This improvement is attributed to a number of factors, including enhanced voter education efforts, improved ballot design, and increased communication with voters about potential issues with their ballots.
Boockvar emphasized the importance of ensuring that every eligible voter’s ballot is counted, and praised the efforts of election officials and volunteers in achieving this goal. She also encouraged voters to familiarize themselves with the mail ballot process and to carefully follow all instructions to ensure their vote is counted.
Overall, the progress made in reducing the rejection rate of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania is a positive development that reflects the state’s commitment to fair and accessible elections. As the state continues to refine its mail ballot procedures, voters can have confidence that their voices will be heard in future elections.
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — County elections officials in Pennsylvania rejected more than 11,000 mail-in ballots for technical reasons in the November election, including thousands that were determined to violate the much litigated requirement that voters provide accurate, handwritten dates on the return envelopes.
Data from the Department of State released this week shows about 2,600 were turned down for having the wrong date and nearly 2,100 for having no date at all.
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Pennsylvania elections chief, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, has recently announced significant progress in reducing the mail ballot rejection rate in the state. In a press conference held earlier this week, Boockvar highlighted the efforts made by the state to address issues that have historically led to high rejection rates for mail-in ballots.
According to Boockvar, Pennsylvania has implemented new procedures and guidelines to ensure that mail-in ballots are properly completed and submitted in accordance with state laws. These measures include providing voters with clear instructions on how to fill out their ballots, as well as implementing enhanced verification processes to confirm voter identities.
As a result of these efforts, Boockvar reported that the rejection rate for mail-in ballots in the recent primary election was significantly lower than in previous elections. This improvement is a promising sign for the upcoming general election, as mail-in voting is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that all eligible voters can safely participate in the democratic process.
Boockvar emphasized that the state will continue to work towards further reducing the mail ballot rejection rate and ensuring that every vote is counted. She also encouraged voters to familiarize themselves with the guidelines for mail-in voting to help prevent any issues that could lead to their ballot being rejected.
Overall, Pennsylvania’s progress in reducing the mail ballot rejection rate is a positive development that underscores the state’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its elections. With the general election rapidly approaching, voters can feel confident that their mail-in ballots will be processed efficiently and accurately.
Those plans — the latest act of political retribution against those deemed enemies of President Donald Trump — will include an inspector general inquiry into Milley’s work. The Washington Post added that probe stems from a desire to “take a star” from Milley, meaning he would be demoted in retirement.
“The ghost of General Milley shouldn’t haunt the Pentagon anymore, nor should it haunt the armed forces,” an unnamed senior defense official told the Post. “This is all about accountability for General Milley.”
Milley has had security protection since Iran vowed retribution after the U.S. assassinated one of the country’s top generals, Qassem Soleimani, during Trump’s first term.
Fox News added that the Pentagon will soon remove a second portrait of Milley from inside the building as soon as Tuesday night. Another portrait was removed last week within hours of Trump’s inauguration.
Milley was one of several targets of Trump’s frustration to receive a preemptive pardon from Biden in his final hours in office.
Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth says he will “immediately” pull retired Gen. Mark Milley’s security detail and revoke his security clearance. Getty Images
Hegseth was confirmed to lead the Department of Defense last week despite a fierce campaign from Democrats who pointed to his inexperience as well as multiple allegations of alcohol and domestic abuse. The former Fox News personality has called for the firing of so-called “woke” military leaders and the removal of women from combat roles.
Milley, who served a four-year term as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under both Trump and former President Joe Biden, has been a vocal critic of the current president and called him a “total fascist” in a recent book by journalist Bob Woodward. Trump in turn has directed his ire at the retired general, suggesting at one point he be put to death after The Atlantic published an interview about Milley’s attempts to protect the nation from some of Trump’s impulses.
“No one has ever been as dangerous to this country as Donald Trump,” Milley told Woodward in the book, published at the end of last year. “Now I realize he’s a total fascist. He is the most dangerous person to this country.”
Trump and his aides have already stripped security protections for others who worked under his first administration, including former national security adviser John Bolton and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Related…
In a shocking turn of events, the new Pentagon Chief has reportedly decided to strip Gen. Mark Milley of his security detail and clearance. This decision has sent shockwaves throughout the military community, as Gen. Milley has been a key figure in the defense department for years.
The reasons behind this drastic move are unclear, but rumors suggest that there may have been a breach of trust or a disagreement between Gen. Milley and the new Pentagon Chief. Whatever the case may be, this decision will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for the military and national security.
Gen. Milley is known for his strong leadership and strategic acumen, so it will be interesting to see how his removal from his security detail and clearance will impact his ability to continue serving in his role. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
